Kia Celebrates 20 Years In Canada

Kia Canada celebrated its twentieth year in Canada at an employee celebration that acknowledged the team effort that contributed to the success of the brand across the country.

During the celebration, the staff was introduced to Elias El-Achhab as the new chief operating officer and vice-president, reporting directly to Kyle Lee, president and CEO of Kia Canada.

“As we look to build on a successful first twenty years in Canada, we are very excited to welcome Elias to the team,” said Lee. “His experience and leadership will play a critical role in bringing some very exciting plans to the Canadian market in both the short and long term.”

Elias joins the team from the S. Dilawri Auto Group in Ottawa where he was vice-president, responsible for all facets of business operations for ten dealerships, two of which were the Kia brand.

In 1999, Kia Canada Inc. opened for business with 43 dealerships and two nameplates – the Sportage and the Sephia – finishing that first year with 1,417 vehicles sold. Since that first year, Kia has grown in leaps and bounds to a national network of nearly 200 locations, delivering nearly 75,000 annual sales through an award-winning line-up of eleven nameplates.

Last week, Kia Canada recognized the contribution that its employees make to the brand’s success through a staff celebration at its corporate head office in Mississauga. For the first time ever, all employees from across the country were given the opportunity to come together and appreciate the cross-functional relationships that make the Power to Surprise possible at all levels of the business.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Kia at such an exciting time for the brand,” said El-Achhab. ”Having the opportunity to celebrate the collective achievement of this team and meet such a great group of people was the perfect way to start my journey at Kia and I cannot wait to be part of the future that has limitless opportunity for the brand both globally and here in Canada.”